Rousting construction for furnace-grates.



G. I. BOUTON.

ROUSTING CONSTRUCTION FOR FURNACE GRATES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, Ian.

1,290,887. Patented Jan.14,1919.

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G. I. BOUION.

ROUSTING CONSTRUCTION FOR FURNACE GBATES.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 19H.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

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APPLICATION FILED APR- 7, I9I7.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

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Gfl. BOUTON.

ROUSTING CONSTRUCTION FOR FURNACE GRATES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. 1917.

1,290,887. v Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PAT nnio.

GEORGE INNES BOUTON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 MURPHY IRON WORKS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

BOUSTING CONSTRUCTION FOR FURNACE-GRATES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 7, 1917. Serial No. 160,423.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE I. BoUToN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rousting Constructions for Furnace-Grates, of which the following is a specification.

In some types of furnaces for steam plants, such, for example, as the well-known Murphy form with V-shaped grate and fuel magazines at its opposite sides, the grates are composed of alternate stationary and movable grate-bars, the latter being pivoted near their top ends and coupled with oscillating means at their lower ends. These rocking bars, therefore, have their greatest extent of movement or rise and fall at their lower ends which movement gradually decreases upwardly of the bar and at the pivotal point substantially vanishes. When the furnace is consuming large quantities of coal, as, for instance, under forced draft conditions, the coal is fed to the grate in such quantity that it is not completely ignited until it has traveled down the sloping grate some considerable distance, this condition being especially likely to occur when low volatile eastern coals are used. To facilitate and hasten this ignition, it has been found to be desirable and advisable to slightly crack or breakup the mass of coke at the top or upper portion of the grate, thus lettingthrough additional air. This breaking or cracking of the coalesced mass not only hastens the complete ignition, but it also causes a more uniform and certain feed of the fuel, doing away with the likelihood of the formation of a bare spot on the grate, which seriously affects the desired and most effective action of the furnace.

In order that those skilled in this art may have a full and complete understanding of the invention, I have illustrated several embodiments of the same in the accompanying drawings, throughout the various views of which like reference characters refer to the same parts, and to which drawings reference should be had in connection with the following detailed description of the various features.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross-section of a furnace of the Murphy type equipped with the improved rousting' mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the operating means for such rousting device;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section through the upper portion of the grate illustrating on an enlarged scale the pivoted rousting members;-

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan of the grate including the rousting mechanism and its operating appliance r Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the upper portion of a grate illustrating a modified structure;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of another style of construction; 7

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan of the device of Fig. 6, showing only the grate structure and the operating means for the musting portion thereof;

ig. 8 is a vertical section showing a furnace-grate equipped with one row of the rousting devices; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan of the structure of Fig. 8, certain portions being omitted. r

Referring first to the species of the invention presented in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, it willbe observed that the'furnace has the usual V-shaped grate 20 to which the fuel is fed by the opposed coal magazines 21, 21. Each inclined portion of the grate is composed of spaced, stationary, ribbed gratebars 22, 22, to which are pivoted at 23 the I shorter movable grate-bars 24 rocked in any approved manner by means of a suitable connection with their lower ends.

In the spaces between'the stationary gratebars above the rocking-bars, I provide two horizontal rows of oscillatory rousting members 25 and 26 pivoted to the stationary grate-bars at 27 and 28 respectively. These members or sectors are rocked or actuated by means of bent links 29 and 30 pivoted at one end on rods 30 common to a plurality of said members and pivoted at their other ends to pairs of arms 31 and 32 secured to a rock-shaft 33 having its front end extended forwardly through the face plate of the furnace and equipped with a notched collar 34 fastened thereto into the notch'or recess of which the tooth 35 of a dog 36 pivoted on a rock-lever 37, loose on the shaft,

Patented J an. 14, 1919.

is adapted to fit. This notch and tooth structure forms in effect a simple detachable clutch construction.

The slotted lever 87 and the slotted link 38, pivoted to a sliding bar 39 which by other connections actuates the stoker-boXes of the fuel-magazines, are connected together by a threaded pin 37 with a winged nut 37* accommodated in both slots. Adjustment of the pin in the slot of link 38 permits the securing of the desired angular movement of shaft 33 for a definite travel of bar 39. Adjustment of the pin in the slot of arm 3? permits regulation or variation of the extent of upward and downward movement of the rousting members.

The arms 31 and are so located and disposed that when the lower row of rous'ting members are up the upper row are down and vice versa, thus securing an effective breaking-up of the fuel mass. To prevent the fuel from falling through the grate, the stationary bars of the latter are desirably provided with suitable ribs 40 and 41 between the rousting elements and also between them and the upper ends of the movable grate-bars.

The operation of the appliance should be clear from the illustration. The pivoted rousting elements rise and fall between the fixed grate-bars with a substantial move.

ment, and since the rows act alternately, an unusually effective fracturing of the bed of fuel is secured, resulting in a marked increase in economy of operation by reason of the more complete combustion, the hastened ignition, and the regular feedof fuel with an avoidance of bare spots on the grate. B y modifying or adjusting the connection be tween arm 37 and link 38 the extent of movement of these agitating members may be varied, as required, and, in case it is dcsired to render the rousting elements inoperative, this may be readily accomplished by removing the tooth of the dog from the notch of the collar, thus breaking the operative connection between these parts.

It should be observed that the positions of the arms on the rock-shaft linked to the rousting members are such that the period of elevation of such members is redu ed to a minimum, whereby to shorten the length of time that such members are subjected to the'heat of the fire while thus raised.

In Fig. 5 a somewhat different construe-- tion is shown in that the arms 50 and 51 on the rock-shaft are so located and the shaft itself is so situated that the top surfaces of both groups of rousting members in the middle positions of their movement will be substantially flush with the surface of the grate as a whole. If, therefore, it is necessary or desirable to stop the action of these rousting members, this may be readily accomplished without leaving them unduly subject to the heatof the fuel-bed, such members under these circumstances being protected and shielded by the stationary grate-bars between which they are accommodated.

In the modification of Figs. 6 and 7 each of the rows of fuel breaking or agitating members is divided into a plurality of banks 60, 61, 62, etc., and 70, 71, 72, etc, so connected to the driving means that the successive banks rise and fall a ternately, and, furthermore, when any bank or group as cends, such as 61, the companion bank 71 in the other row descends, and vice versa. In this way a particularly eflicient breaking up of the fuel is secured.

In some cases only one row of fuel-breaking members is needed, as in Figs. 8 and 9 in which instance, they are divided into sets or groups 80, 81, 82, etc, operating alternately. That is to say, when any one grmip or bank is ascending, those on both sides of it are descending and vice versa. This, of course, is a mere matter of properly positioning the operating shaft, arranging the arms thereon at the required angles, and shaping the connecting links accordingly.

In an ordinary furnace of the Murphy type the lower ends of the rocking gratebars move only about three quarters of an inch, which, of course, at their upper ends is practically nothing. The rousting sectors, on the other hand, may conveniently have a rise of three inches more or less, suflicing to divide the bed of coke into parts to effect the desired results specified.

Experience has shown that by thus adequately breaking up the fuel bed at this portion of the grate, thus facilitating and hastening the ignition and bringing about a more even feed of fuel thereby eliminating bare spots on the grate, the capacity of the furnace as a whole may be materially augwanted and the economy of operiuzion substantially increased.

To those skilled in this art it will be apparent that the invention is not limited and restricted to the particular embodiments herein presented and that many minor me chanical changes may be made iuthe structures vithout departure from the substance of the invention and without the sacrifice of any of its substantial benefits and advantages.

I claim:

it, In a furnacegrate and rousting con struction of the character described, the combination of a grate comprising stationary and'movable grate-bars, means to operate said movable grate-bars to efiect the fuel feed on the grate, movable rousting-members between said stationary grate-bars at a point where the fuel will have become coked before reaching such point in its travel on the grate, and means to actuate said roastingtravel of the movable grate-bars to lift and break the coke, substantially as described.

2. In a furnace-grate and rousting construction of the character described, the combination of a grate comprising inclined stationary and movable grate-bars, means to operate said movable grate-bars to effect the fuel feed down the grate, movable rousting members between upper portions of said stationary grate-bars at a point where the fuel will have become coked before reaching such point in its travel on the grate, and means to actuate said rousting-members to project them sufficiently beyond the stationary grate-bars and the range of travel of the movable grate-bars to lift and break the coke, substantially as described.

3. In a furnace-grate and rousting construction of the character described, the combination of a grate comprising inclined alternate stationary and movable gratebars, means to operate said movable gratebars to effect the fuel feed down the grate, movable rousting-members between the upper portions of said stationary grate-bars above the movable grate-bars and at a point where the fuel will have become coked before reaching such point in its travel on the grate, and means to actuate said rousting-members to project them sufliciently beyond the stationary grate-bars and the range of travel of the movable grate-bars to lift and break the coke, substantially as described.

- l. \In a furnace-grate and rousting construction of the character described, the combination of an inclined grate comprising alternate stationary and movable grate-bars, means to operate said movable grate-bars to effect the fuel feed down the grate, movable rousting-members between the upper portions of said stationary grate-bars at a point where the fuel will have become coked before reaching such point in its travel on the grate, and means to actuate said rousting-members with a variable movement to project them suiliciently beyond the stationary grate-bars and the range of travel of the movable grate-bars to lift and break the coke, substantially as described.

5. In a furnace-grate and rousting con struction of the character described, the combination of a grate comprising stationary and movable grate-bars, means to operate said movable grate-bars to effect the fuel feed on the grate, pivoted rousting-members between said stationary grate-bars at a point where the fuel will have become coked before reaching such point in its travel on the grate, and means to rock said roustingmembers sufliciently to project them beyond the stationary grate-bars and the range of travel of the movable grate-bars to lift and break the coke, substantially as described.

6. In a furnace-grate and rousting construction of the character described, the combination of a grate comprising inclined stationary and movable grate-bars, means to operate said movable grate-bars to effect the fuel feed down the grate, pivoted roustingmembers between the upper portions of said stationary grate-bars at a point where the fuel will have become coked before reaching such point in its travel on the grate, and means to rock said rousting-members with a variable movement sufficiently to project them beyond the stationary gratebars and the range of travel of the movable grate-bars to lift and break the coke, substantially as described.

7. In a furnace-grate construction of the character described, the combination of stationary and movable grate-bars, means to operate said movable grate-bars, movable rousting members between the stationary grate-bars, and means to move said members up and down, the movements of some of said members being out of phase with others, substantially as described.

8. In a furnace-grate construction of the character described, the combination of inclined stationary and movable grate-bars, means to operate said movable grate-bars, movable rousting members between the upper portions of said stationary grate-bars, and means to move said members up and down, the movement of some of said members being out of phase with others, substantially as described.

9. In a furnace-grate construction of the character described, the combination of stationary and movable grate-bars, means to operate said movable grate-bars, movable rousting-members between said stationary grate-bars, and means to move said rousting members up and down, a portion of the members moving up when the others are moving down, and vice versa, substantially as described.

10. In a furnace-grate construction of the character described, the combination of inclined stationary and movable grate-bars, means to operate said movable grate-bars, movable rousting-members between the upper portions of said stationary bars, and means to move said members up and down,

a portion of the members moving up when 7 the others are moving down and vice versa, substantially as described.

11. In a furnace-grate construction of the character described, the combination of stationary and movable grate-bars arranged alternately, rousting-members pivoted between the stationary bars above the corresponding movable grate-bars, means to operate sald movable grate-bars, and means to rock said rousting-members, the extent of movement of those portions of said roustingmembers nearest the movable grate-bars, be ing greater than that of the adjacent portions of said movable grate-bars, substantially as described.

12. In a furnace-grate construction of the character described, the combination of stationary gratebars, movable grate-bars be tween and pivoted on said stationary bars, rousting-members pivotally mounted between the stationary bars above the corresponding movable grate-bars, means to 0pcrate said movable grate-bars, and means to actuate said rousting-meinbers, substantially as described.

13. In a furnace-grate construction of the character described, the combination of stationary grate-bars. movable grate-bars between and pivoted on said stationary-bars, roasting-members pivotally mounted be tween the stationary bars above the corre sponding movable grate-bars, means to operate said movable grate-bars, and means to actuate said rousting-members, the extent of movement of: those portions of said roustingmembers nearest the movablegrate-bars being greater than that of the adjacent portions of. said grate-bars, substantially as described.

H. In a furnace-grate construction of the character described, the combination of grate-bars, a plurality of rows of roustingmembers disposed between said bars, and means to operate said members, the members of one row rising While those of anotherrow are descending and vice versa, substantially as described.

15. In a furnace-grate construction of the character described, the combination of inclined stationary grate-bars, inclined pivoted grate-bars, aplurality of rows of pivoted rousting-members between said stationary grate-bars above the pivoted bars, and means to operate said roustingmembers, the members of one row rising While those of another row are descending, and vice versa, substantially as described.

16. In a furnace-grateconstruction of the character described, the combination of grate-bars, a plurality of rows of movable roust-ing-members, such members in each row being divided into banks or groups, and means to actuate said members to cause alternate banks to rise when the remaining alternate banks are descending and vice versa, substantially as described.

17. In a furnace-grate construct-ion of the character described. the combination of grate-bars, a plurality 01 rows of movable rousting-members, such members in each row being divided into banks or groups, and means to actuate said members to cause alternate banks to rise when the remaining alternate banks are descending and vice versa, the movement of the corresponding banks in the rows being out of phase With one another, substantially as described.

GEORGE INNES BOUTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. 

